all desktop icons disappear

Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are that's visible.If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start Button does work.We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick Launch area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being visible and all missing.We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're using XP Pro if that matters.Thanks for any help.Bobbie

"Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message news:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com...> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons > disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are > that's visible.> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing > happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start Button > does work.> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick Launch > area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being > visible and all missing.> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're > using XP Pro if that matters.> Thanks for any help.> Bobbie>

"Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in messagenews:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons> disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are > that's> visible.> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing> happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start Button> does work.> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick Launch> area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being> visible and all missing.> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're> using XP Pro if that matters.> Thanks for any help.> Bobbie

Right click a blank spot on the desktop.Put the Mouse cursor over "Arrange icons by ..."Make sure there's a checkmark for "Show desktop icons".

I think we'll use System Restore. Was hoping to find the specific problem but at this point we're just ready to have it working correctly

Thanks for the suggestionBobbie

"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message news:%23CTUoOJNFHA.3144@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...> "Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message> news:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com>> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons>> disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are >> that's>> visible.>> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing>> happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start Button>> does work.>> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick Launch>> area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being>> visible and all missing.>> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're>> using XP Pro if that matters.>> Thanks for any help.>> Bobbie>> Right click a blank spot on the desktop.> Put the Mouse cursor over "Arrange icons by ..."> Make sure there's a checkmark for "Show desktop icons".>> -- > Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE> Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email> http://www.fjsmjs.com> Protect your PC> http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx> http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/>>

There are so many things that can cause the same issue, if a user has a way of getting things back together, it's often better or at least easier to use that option than to spend time trying to figure out the specific source. Once you get things back together, when you have the time, you can then try retracing your steps up to the time things began to go wrong and see if you can figure out what happened. Sometimes, you never find it.

"Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message news:114jhsd97kj8988@corp.supernews.com...> Right-clicking on the desktop doesn't give a menu... nothing happens.>> I think we'll use System Restore. Was hoping to find the specific problem > but at this point we're just ready to have it working correctly >> Thanks for the suggestion> Bobbie>> "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message > news:%23CTUoOJNFHA.3144@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...>> "Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message>> news:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com>>> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons>>> disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are >>> that's>>> visible.>>> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing>>> happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start >>> Button>>> does work.>>> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick >>> Launch>>> area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being>>> visible and all missing.>>> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're>>> using XP Pro if that matters.>>> Thanks for any help.>>> Bobbie>>>> Right click a blank spot on the desktop.>> Put the Mouse cursor over "Arrange icons by ...">> Make sure there's a checkmark for "Show desktop icons".>>>> -- >> Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE>> Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email>> http://www.fjsmjs.com>> Protect your PC>> http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx>> http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/>>>>>>

"Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in message news:%237SyTE%23MFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...> Since it began yesterday, you might try using System Restore to take your > system back to a time prior to when this began. Start\All > Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore.>> -- > In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.>> Michael Solomon MS-MVP> Windows Shell/User> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/>>> "Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message > news:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com...>> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons >> disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are >> that's visible.>> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing >> happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start Button >> does work.>> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick Launch >> area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons being >> visible and all missing.>> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're >> using XP Pro if that matters.>> Thanks for any help.>> Bobbie>>>>

"Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message news:114liuv66r87j11@corp.supernews.com...> System Restore worked great. Thanks for the help> Bobbie>> "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in message > news:%237SyTE%23MFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...>> Since it began yesterday, you might try using System Restore to take your >> system back to a time prior to when this began. Start\All >> Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore.>>>> -- >> In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.>>>> Michael Solomon MS-MVP>> Windows Shell/User>> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx>> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend>> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/>>>>>> "Bobbie" <zebozette@mailhot.com> wrote in message >> news:114g95846apud9d@corp.supernews.com...>>> Beginning yesterday, when my boss launches any program ALL desktop icons >>> disappear. The Start Button, Quick Lauch, toolbar and clock area are >>> that's visible.>>> If we right-click on the desktop when the icons are missing nothing >>> happens... no menu displays. Right click on the toolbar and Start >>> Button does work.>>> We can get the icons back using the Show Desktop shortcut in Quick >>> Launch area. In fact Show Desktop will toggle between all desktop icons >>> being visible and all missing.>>> We checked for a stuck Windows key. No change. Any suggestsions? We're >>> using XP Pro if that matters.>>> Thanks for any help.>>> Bobbie>>>>>>>>>